President Trump's North Korea Threat Was Off-the-Cuff

President Trump doesn’t seem to be reading from the same playbook as his national security team as they respond to the escalating North Korea nuclear threat. Amid reports that the rogue state has miniaturized nuclear warheads to place on missiles and heating rhetoric from new sanctions, Trump promised “fire and fury like the world has never seen” should North Korea continue its threats against the U.S. It was a striking statement channeling Harry S. Truman’s comments on the A-bomb. He followed that Wednesday with inaccurate tweets about the U.S. nuclear arsenal. But Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis both urged deescalation in public comments. Tillerson said the American people had nothing to fear, as he stopped in Guam hours after the North Korean regime threatened the U.S. base there. And while Mattis warned about American capabilities, he indicated that North Korea would be loathe to make a first move on the U.S. White House aides explained that Trump’s comments were off-the-cuff, and not coordinated with his national security team.

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“North Korea best not make any more threats to the United states. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. He has been very threatening beyond a normal state, and as I said they will be met with fire, fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before. Thank you.” — President Trump Tuesday

“Americans should sleep well at night.” — Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Wednesday